Leninsky Is Noted By Time for Kids

Look for young journalist Danica Leninsky’s name in a few years when you open a newspaper.

At age 13, the Country Club Manor resident is already being recognized as a notable writer by Time for Kids Magazine.

Danica was selected as one of 32 finalists in a nationwide contest put on by the magazine in order to find 16 young journalists to report for them for the 2005-2006 school year. She is the daughter of Joan Carroll and Dan Leninsky.

She wrote an article on a lockdown that had occurred at Stone Middle School, where she is an eighth-grader and submitted it to the contest. She then received a letter telling her that she was one of 32 finalists in the contest. She now must submit a video tape about herself, present a story idea and write an article on a local person who is not related to her.

“I think it's great. She's very self-motivated. She loves to try new things and she's willing to take chances,” said Danica’s mother Joan Carroll.

Danica is not just a writer though, she also participates in Tae Kwon Do, golf, gymnastics, a literary magazine, the math club at school, and volunteers for A Forever Home Animal Rescue as well as the Centreville Library.

Here is a sample of her article:

“Attention students and teachers. We are under a lockdown. Lock your doors immediately and follow the lockdown procedure.” That was what the students at Ormond Stone Middle School heard coming from the loudspeaker one morning this April. Teachers just as frightened as the students hurried everyone to a spot in their classroom away from doors and windows, locked the doors, and turned out the lights.